Re: [PCTECH] Old PC as internet gateway and file server

[Peter Colpaert <Peter.Colpaert@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Walden,

there are several reasons:

- I've already got a switch for my lan
- I wanted to use the box as DHCP, DNS, firewall, proxy, SMTP, POP3, 
internal WWW, file and print server
- my budget (=wife) won't allow yet another computer related purchase 
after the new pc for my son ;-)

And last but not least, I'd like to get to know linux, and what better 
way is there than building your own system?

Thanks for the advice anyway,

Peter

Walden H. Leverich wrote:

> I'm just curious why you'd want to build your own firewall/proxy box
> instead of dropping something like the Linksys router in, especially
> given that you said that your "linux knowledge is almost zero." Do you
> want to trust a PC that you don't understand to be your firewall? 
>
> Are people aware of any serious problems with these little (<$100) boxes
> that seem to act as a decent DHCP/Firewall/DNS Proxy? Granted, they're
> not a full fledged statefull inspection firewall, but when all you're
> doing is outbound processing and you tell it to drop _anything_ inbound
> then I don't see the problem.
>
> Just an idea.
>
> -Walden
>
> PS. This small "box" also won't annoy your wife since it's about the
> same size as the cable modem. 
>
>
> ------------
> Walden H Leverich III
> Tech Software
> (516) 627-3800 x11
> WaldenL@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> http://www.TechSoftInc.com
>
> Quiquid latine dictum sit altum viditur.
> (Whatever is said in Latin seems profound.)
>  
>
>